Nocturne

Swinnerton, Frank, 1884-1982Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.3

Word count: 298K words
Chapters: 30

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Nocturne by Frank SwinnertonAuthor: Swinnerton, Frank, 1884-1982,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Feb 26, 2005

Editor's review

Nocturne is a novel by the English writer Frank Swinnerton (1884–1982). It falls under the category of English literature and has been released by Project Gutenberg as a public-domain ebook. Swinnerton was a prolific twentieth-century English novelist and critic whose works often depict with delicate strokes the emotions and daily lives of the urban middle class; this novel likewise continues his attention to human relationships and the inner world. As a public-domain ebook, its value lies first in accessibility: readers can obtain the English original on the Project Gutenberg platform at no cost, making it suitable as supplementary reading for understanding the landscape of early twentieth-century English fiction. It is best read without expectations of a strongly plot-driven narrative, and more suited to quiet, unhurried reading in which one savors the dialogue and atmosphere. For readers studying Swinnerton's work or the circulation of editions in English literature, the book also offers a convenient entry point to the original text.

Who it's for

A good fit for

English-language readers who want to read early twentieth-century English fiction for free
Literature enthusiasts interested in Swinnerton and his English contemporaries
University students who need public-domain English texts for edition or textual research
Readers accustomed to slow-reading long English novels on electronic devices

Not a good fit for

Readers of popular fiction who prefer strong plots and fast-paced narratives
Readers who need a Chinese translation and are not used to reading English originals
Beginner readers expecting a detailed introduction and annotations

Reading tips

Read the first two or three chapters to gauge the language difficulty and narrative pace before deciding whether to read closely or extensively.
Read alongside biographical material on Swinnerton and background on early twentieth-century English society.
When reading on an electronic device, mark character relationships as you go to avoid losing the thread in long passages.
If using the book for a course or research, check the edition information provided on the Project Gutenberg page as well.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book in Chinese or English?

According to the Gutenberg entry information, the language of this book is English and it falls under the category of English literature. The main text is in the original English, and no Chinese translation is currently provided with the book.

What are the features of the Gutenberg edition of Nocturne?

It is a public-domain e-book from Project Gutenberg and can be obtained free of charge. The entry notes that it is in the English literature category and gives a release date of February 26, 2005. The text is presented in the original language and usually contains no modern introduction or detailed annotations.

Can I read it directly without having read other works by Swinnerton?

Yes. This book is a standalone novel and does not depend on earlier works. However, Swinnerton's style emphasizes character and atmosphere, so first-time readers may wish to slow down and need not rush to sort out all the plot threads.

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About the author

Swinnerton, Frank, 1884-1982 Author · British · 1884–1982

Frank Swinnerton (1884–1982) was a British novelist and literary critic. His writing and criticism spanned much of twentieth-century English literary life: he wrote fiction, worked for years as a critic, and left several memoirs of the literary world that offer first-hand material on the people and temper of his time. His novels include Nocturne and Coquette, works that often centre on urban life and relations between men and women, written with delicate attention to character psychology and everyday atmosphere, restrained rather than exaggerated in style. Two of his works are held in this collection. Public information on his early education, career details and honours is limited, so no speculation is offered here; readers may turn to his fiction and memoirs for his observation of human nature and his enduring literary taste.